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Home , Demetrios Nicolaides, Kaycee Madu, Premier (Canada), Premier of Alberta, Rajan Sawhney, Tanya Fir

The Honourable of Office of the Premier 307 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue , Alberta T5K 2B6

Dear Premier Kenney,

Alberta’s nonprofit and charitable sector is prepared to support the Government of Alberta in this time of crisis to ensure support for communities and individuals. We are a vital aspect of the wider support system and, in many cases, we are at the front-line of caring for this province’s most vulnerable.

To ensure continued delivery of essential services in this time of need, the Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN)—advocating on behalf of Alberta’s nonprofit and charitable organizations— urges the Government of Alberta to ensure additional funding is available to front-line organizations and provide assurance and flexibility regarding ongoing funding agreements. We are eager to establish clear lines of communication with the Government of Alberta and continue discussions on the impacts of COVID-19 on service delivery and the expectations of the sector.

We were pleased to see the province provide emergency funding of $60 million to support select COVID-19-related social services. It was a clear confirmation of the critical role civil society organizations will play in managing this pandemic. However, it is crucial to recognize that many other front-line nonprofits will see increased demand for their services, including care facilities, food banks, and mental health organizations.

Beyond front-line COVID-19-related services, many more organizations are considering the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on operations. Now that organizations have taken the necessary precautions to protect staff and stakeholders from the spread of the virus, their attention has turned to the impacts that social isolation measures will have on operations, staffing, service delivery, and funding, including lost casino and event revenue.

We urge the Government of Alberta to consider the following recommendations to address these crucial concerns:

1. Provide clarity on the Government of Alberta’s commitment to current funding agreements and provide emergency grants to other front-line services.

2. Provide flexibility on expectations within current funding agreements and maintain long- term eligibility to account for the limited ability of organizations to deliver regular programs and services at this time. Specific recommendations include allowing nonprofits to allocate funding to new priorities, delaying reporting deadlines and providing flexibility with meeting expected outcomes.

3. Provide details surrounding the 14-day paid leave entitlement, specifically the necessary administrative processes and procedures within the Employment Standards Code.

It is imperative that the Government of Alberta provide clarity on these fundamental elements, as they significantly impact the operational capacity and long-term sustainability of thousands of organizations provincewide. As a sector, we are eager to partner with Ministers and representatives to ensure nonprofits can take informed and decisive action through this difficult time with as much clarity and confidence as possible.

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to meeting to discuss these recommendations and how the nonprofit sector can continue to support the Alberta Government and Albertans in this time of crisis.

Sincerely,

The Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN)

Gemma Dunn, Director Robyn Blackadar, President & CEO Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations PolicyWise for Children & Families Chantal Beaver, Executive Director Doug Watson, President & CEO FuseSocial Wood Buffalo Propellus Larry Mathieson, Chief Executive Officer Karen Link, Executive Director Kerby Center Volunteer Alberta Heidi Miller Zerr, Partner Chris Roedler, Board Member Impact8, Inc. Volunteer Lethbridge Mike Grogan, Executive Director IntegralOrg

Cc: The Honourable , Minister of Advanced Education The Honourable , Minister of Children’s Services The Honourable , Minister of Community and Social Services The Honourable , Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women The Honourable , Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism The Honourable , Minister of Environment and Parks The Honourable , Minister of Health The Honourable Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations The Honourable , Minister of Labour and Immigration The Honourable , Minister of Municipal Affairs The Honourable , and Housing The Honourable , Minister of Service Alberta The Honourable , President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance The Honourable , Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction

Contact: For questions or further conversation, please contact:

Gemma Dunn, Executive Director Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) E: [email protected] P: 780-809-0886

Karen Link, Executive Director Volunteer Alberta E: [email protected] P: 780-482-3300 ext 227

Chantal Beaver, Executive Director FuseSocial E: [email protected] P: 780-791-9333

Larry Mathieson, Chief Executive Officer Kerby Centre E: [email protected] P: 403-705-3251

About ABNN: The Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN) is an independent network of organizations seeking to advance the cohesive, proactive and resilient nonprofit sector in Alberta. Our network brings together organizations of all sizes and scopes to collectively define and respond to systemic issues impacting the nonprofit sector in Alberta. More information can be found at www.albertanonprofits.ca.